Lacybourne Manor (Ghosts and Reincarnation #3)(114)

“Did you get the letter about this one?” Mrs. Griffith queried abruptly, swinging her cane dangerously to indicate Colin, its unsteady arc coming so close to him he had to swiftly lean back to avoid it smashing into his jaw.

“I did indeed,” Mags replied.

“Mrs. Griffith, what did you do?” Sibyl turned her attention to the older woman.

“Well, I approved, of course. And not just because you’re both sickeningly good-looking.” Then she turned to confide in Colin, “You are remarkably handsome, my boy, but don’t let it go to your head. Nothing’s worse than a conceited man.” Colin’s lips twitched at her blunt advice as Mrs. Griffith turned back to Sibyl and stated, “His minibus tirade was too good not to share.”

Sibyl closed her eyes slowly and one could practically hear her mentally counting to ten. When she opened them, she glowered at her mother. “You could have said something.”

“Do I need to tell you everything?” Mags countered.

Marian noted that Colin seemed unaffected by all of this except, perhaps, to look mildly amused.

“Well, I approve too, Mrs. Griffith.” Scarlett threw in her lot. “He’s a shocking chauvinist and unrepentantly bourgeois but he’ll do.”

“That’s what I thought. Not about the chauvy-and-bourgie-whatsit, don’t know a thing about that, but he’ll do,” Mrs. Griffith agreed and then giggled like a schoolgirl.

Sibyl emitted a frustrated noise then announced, “I need to go backstage.”

At this, Mrs. Griffith announced, “And we need to find seats, the good ones are mostly taken, so…” she turned to Colin, “you might have to throw your weight around.” Then she shifted slowly, indicating her intent to move while proclaiming as if she was bestowing a great honour, “Now, you may escort me to our seats.”

“Lead the way,” Colin murmured politely but stopped and turned when Sibyl’s hand landed lightly on his arm and then she went up on her toes to touch her lips against his.

“I’ll see you after,” she whispered, he nodded and then allowed himself to be led away by the older woman as Sibyl disappeared between the sliding doors.

“Watching them, you almost feel like a voyeur and she’d barely kissed him,” Marian heard Bertie mutter to himself.

Marian didn’t respond for at that instant she felt an ice-cold thrill go down her spine and her head shot up.

“No,” she whispered, not wishing to believe it.

“What’s that?” Bertie asked, he had taken her by the elbow and was showing her to a seat.

She gently pulled her arm away, hid her concern and smiled at Sibyl’s father. “I need to see to something. I’ll only be away a moment.”

Bertie misinterpreted her meaning and inclined his head politely. “I’ll save you a seat.”

She nodded to him then scanned the crowd as they all began to settle into their chairs.

She felt nothing.

She moved to stand at the back, carefully considering each person as her eyes touched the backs of their heads.

More nothing.

She felt the hairs go up on the back of her neck and she whirled, seeing the dark material swirl about the corner of the doors to the Hall and disappear outside.

On her guard and chanting a swift spell under her breath, she followed.

There was no sight of anyone as she looked this way and that in the now deserted front of the Community Centre.

She thought perhaps she was being silly. The golden aura was dim, yes, Colin had not yet realised his true feelings for Sibyl. But Sibyl’s were more than strong enough to protect the pair. She radiated her love for him, true and pure. And Marian was aware enough of their generation (and Colin’s reputation) to know, without a doubt, that this love had been consummated.

However, for good measure, she decided to put a protection spell on the Hall. She wasn’t going to be caught unawares this time.

She carefully closed the double doors, turned her back to them and walked two steps into the lobby. Then she opened her mouth to start her chant and cast her spell. But before she uttered a noise, a dark figure spirited out of the cloak room to her left.

With a blinding flash of excruciating light, Marian crumpled to the ground.

Then the darkly clad form dragged her limp body, unnoticed, out into the night.

* * * * *

Colin was surprised at how good the Talent Show was, definitely worth the meagre price of admission. It was lovingly, if cheaply, produced and obvious that each child had received a good deal of kindly direction.

Sibyl’s “girls” did not win, but came in second place to a young lady who recited a poem so precociously, with her talent and a great deal of luck to get out of her dire surroundings, Colin could see her in the West End.

Throughout the performance, keenly tuned to her, he saw Sibyl slide in and out of the Hall. She would tiptoe in to talk to the DJ or stand at the side and gesture to the man who trained the spotlight from the loft in the back. But when her girls performed, Colin noticed she stood to the very edge of the back of the audience and, hilariously, did the entire dance right along with the girls and then hooted and cheered the loudest when they were done.

When the lights came up after the prizes were awarded, people milled about and Mrs. Griffith announced her intention to go to Sibyl’s office and call herself a taxi.